Older versions of Android contained various vulnerabilities that allowed gaining root access to the device. Many malicious programs exploited these to elevate their system privileges and gain persistence. The notorious Triada Trojan also used this attack vector. With time, the vulnerabilities were patched, and restrictions were added to the firmware. Specifically, system partitions in recent Android versions cannot be edited, even with superuser privileges. Ironically, this has inadvertently benefited malicious actors.
While external malware now faces greater permission restrictions, pre-installed malware within system partitions has become impossible to remove. Attackers are leveraging this by embedding malicious software into Android device firmware. This is how one of Kaspersky earlier findings, the Dwphon loader, functioned. It was built into system apps for over-the-air (OTA) updates. In March 2025, Kaspersky research highlighted the Triada Trojan’s evolved tactics to overcome Android’s enhanced privilege restrictions.
Read more…
Source: Kaspersky
Sign up for our Newsletter
The latest news and insights delivered right to your inbox.
Related:
- Philippine National Police checking alleged data breach in its logistics system
May 13, 2024
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said it was looking into a possible breach in its logistics, data, information, and management system. “At about 10 a.m. today, it was reported that yun pong logistics, data, information, and management system experienced an alleged breach,” PNP spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said in a presser. Read more… Source: GMA ...
- Dell data breach may affect up to 49m customers
May 13, 2024
Dell has confirmed a data breach that could, according to reports, have affected up to 49m customers. The breach revealed names and addresses of Dell customers, as well as information about equipment purchased, although the tech giant says that no payment or banking details were uncovered in the incident. Read more… Source: MSN News Sign up for our Newsletter Related:
- Some Firstmac customer details breached in home lender hack
May 10, 2024
Some current and former customers of Brisbane-based non-bank home lender Firstmac were notified this afternoon that some of their details had been compromised in a “cyber incident”. Firstmac said that as soon as the incident was detected, they took steps to secure their systems, and engaged cyber security experts. Read more… Source: MSN News Sign up for our Newsletter Related:
- Thousands affected by cyber attack on Hong Kong college
May 10, 2024
Over 8,000 students of a private vocational college have been affected by a cyber attack, the privacy watchdog said on Friday. The Hong Kong College of Technology said its information technology network and file server were hacked in February. A ransomware group is believed to have got hold of 450GB of the college’s data and the ...
- Boeing says it refused to pay massive ransomware demand
May 9, 2024
Boeing has revealed it refused to pay a $200 million ransom demand from ransomware hackers who stole a tranche of sensitive data in 2023. The incident impacted elements of its parts and distribution business, but that flight safety was not compromised. LockBit’s affiliates walked away with 43 gigabytes of data, for which they later demanded an ...
- DocGo patient health data stolen in cyberattack
May 9, 2024
Medical health care provider DocGo has disclosed in a form 8-K that it experienced a cybersecurity incident involving some of the company’s systems. As part of the investigation of the incident, the company says it has determined that the attacker accessed and acquired data, including certain protected health information. DocGo is a healthcare provider that offers ...